Looking for historical guitar information

I am forwarding a message (below) I relieved from my guitar teacher
regarding Ethan Allen's wife Fanny, and some information that she may
have been a guitarist. Of course, this is of particular interest to us
here in Vermont as Ethan Allen was one of the founders of our state.

The only thing that popped into my head was a story I read some where
(maybe here) about George Washington's niece playing an 'English'
guitar - a cittern, but I'm hoping someone here might know more.

John L.


From: "C.P. Smith PTO" <vermonthossley@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: November 29, 2007 9:10:27 AM EST
To: john.mantegna@xxxxxxx
Subject: Can you help us find an old guitar? Wayne Schneider suggested I call you.

Dear John Mantegna,

Perhaps you can help us? The Ethan Allen Homestead Museum recently ran across information that Dr. Wayne Schneider of the UVM Music Department and his wife Paula Olsen from the Champlain College Library helped us verify regarding Fanny Allen's musical guitar talents. Fanny was the wife of Vermont's founder Ethan Allen who homesteaded here in Burlington along the Winooski River in 1785.

The Museum and its volunteers are always excited to learn more about Ethan and his beautiful wife Fanny. Now that we have confirmation that Fanny did in fact play a "guitar" of some kind we were hoping you could help us either locate a picture of the style of guitar most likely that a young well off girl from New York might have played in the 1700's or set us in the right direction to find either a replica or close approximation.

We plan to add the guitar to our exhibits in the historic Allen Homestead. We have already found some 1700's *** music which we have duplicated onto old paper and hope to have a close looking guitar on exhibit by our reopening next May 2008.

Wayne suggested I contact you for advice. Thank you for any assistance you could provide. The Museum and its volunteers appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

John Hossley
Ethan Allen Homestead Museum
Transition Coordinator

802-660-9639



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